The 2016 Partners in Charity campaign was launched at noon Feb. 11 at the Chancery with the showing of a video titled “Called to be Merciful.”
The video, which is less than seven minutes long, includes a short talk by Bishop McManus, and describes some of the 30 agencies which Partners in Charity helps to support.
After the showing of the video, Michael P. Gillespie, diocesan director of Stewardship and Development, thanked members of the Partners advisory committee, pastors, associates, lay people and Chancery personnel, who attended the luncheon in the Chancery library, for their support.
He also thanked Raymond L. Delisle, diocesan chancellor and communications director and Steve Kaufman, of the diocesan television ministry, for filming and producing the video; and Margaret Russell, executive editor of The Catholic Free Press and Elizabeth Agbey, graphic designer, for designing the “Called to be Merciful” banner. The banner is available for the parishes to display.Bishop McManus also thanked everyone for their support and said that, though the Appeal last year fell about $120,000 short of the $5 million goal, he hoped this year’s drive would reach that goal.
He said that of the roughly 300,000 Catholics in the diocese, about 20 percent support the Appeal. He asked for prayers to “touch people’s hearts.” The Appeal this year emphasizes the corporal works of mercy. Jesus said “when I was hungry, you fed me, when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink,” the bishop said. This year, he said, he wants to “put flesh on the corporal works of mercy in the diocese by showing other people mercy.”
“We are more prone to show mercy to others when we have experienced a work of mercy ourselves,” he said.
Mr. Deslisle said the video is available on the websites www.worcesterdiocese.org and www.partners-charity.net. Those interested can pick it up on smartphones or iPads by using the QR code.